عَلَّموناthey taught us الصَبرَpatience يُطفيquenches ماwhat اِستَعَرblazed
عَلَّمونا الصَبرَ يُطفي ما اِستَعَر
إِنَّماonly الأَجرُthe reward لِمَفجوعٍfor a bereaved person صَبَرbore patiently
إِنَّما الأَجرُ لِمَفجوعٍ صَبَر
They taught us: patience quenches what blazes.
They taught us patience quenches raging fires
Reward is only for the bereaved who bears patiently.
Reward's for the bereaved who's patience perseveres
صَدمَةٌa shock فيin الغَربِthe West أَمسىbecame وَقعُهاits impact
صَدمَةٌ في الغَربِ أَمسى وَقعُها
فيin رُبوعِthe regions of الشَرقِthe East مَشئومَill-omened الأَثَرthe effect
في رُبوعِ الشَرقِ مَشئومَ الأَثَر
A shock in the West, whose impact became
A shock in the West, its impact ominous
ill-omened throughout the regions of the East.
Shook spirits in Egypt's land unstirred by summits
زَلزَلَتshook فيin أَرضِthe land of مِصرٍEgypt أَنفُساًsouls
زَلزَلَت في أَرضِ مِصرٍ أَنفُساً
لَمdid not يُزَلزِلهاshake them قَرارُthe decision of المُؤتَمَرthe conference
لَم يُزَلزِلها قَرارُ المُؤتَمَر
It shook souls in the land of Egypt
No clash of stars in the heavens
that the conference's decision had not shaken.
Could impact Earth's people so gravely somber
ماnot اِصطِدامُthe collision of النَجمِthe star بِالنَجمِwith the star عَلىfor
ما اِصطِدامُ النَجمِ بِالنَجمِ عَلى
ساكِنيthe inhabitants of الأَرضِthe earth بِأَدهىany more calamitous وَأَمَرand more bitter
ساكِني الأَرضِ بِأَدهى وَأَمَر
No collision of star with star is, for
Death plucked the first fruits of Egypt's youth
the earth's inhabitants, more dreadful or more bitter.
Reaping the fairest flowers in their splendor
قَطَفَplucked المَوتُdeath بَواكيرَthe first fruits of النُهىintellect
قَطَفَ المَوتُ بَواكيرَ النُهى
فَجَنىso gathered أَجمَلَthe fairest طاقاتِbouquets of الزَهَرflowers
فَجَنى أَجمَلَ طاقاتِ الزَهَر
Death plucked the first fruits of intellect,
Death swept over our moons
and gathered the fairest bouquets of flowers.
Moon after moon collapsed asunder
وَعَداand assailed المَوتُdeath عَلىupon أَقمارِناour moons
وَعَدا المَوتُ عَلى أَقمارِنا
فَتَهاوَواso they fell قَمَراًa moon بِعدَafter قَمَرa moon
فَتَهاوَوا قَمَراً بِعدَ قَمَر
And Death assailed our moons,
For the Nile, knowledge, and in God's trust
so they fell, moon after moon.
The twelve met their ends yonder
فيin سَبيلِthe cause of النيلِthe Nile وَالعِلمِand learning وَفيand in
في سَبيلِ النيلِ وَالعِلمِ وَفي
ذِمَّةِthe keeping of اللَهِGod قَضىdied الإِثناthe two عَشَرten
ذِمَّةِ اللَهِ قَضى الإِثنا عَشَر
In the cause of the Nile and learning, and in
O East's stars, what misfortune befell you
God's keeping, the twelve met their end.
In the orbit of the West, no twist or bend spared
أَيO بُدورَfull moons of الشَرقِthe East ماذاwhat نابَكُمbefell you
أَي بُدورَ الشَرقِ ماذا نابَكُم
فيin مَسارِthe course of الغَربِthe West مِنfrom صَرفِthe vicissitudes of الغِيَرchanging fortune
في مَسارِ الغَربِ مِن صَرفِ الغِيَر
O full moons of the East, what befell you
News that severed wishes completely
on your western course, through fortune's reversals?
And deafened our hearing, blinded our stare
نَبَأٌnews قَطَّعَsevered أَوصالَthe limbs of المُنىhopes
نَبَأٌ قَطَّعَ أَوصالَ المُنى
وَأَصَمَّand deafened السَمعَhearing مِنّاin us وَالبَصَرand sight
وَأَصَمَّ السَمعَ مِنّا وَالبَصَر
News that tore the limbs of hope apart
How many groans has Egypt voiced from her heat
and deafened our hearing and our sight.
Sweeping the sand, birds and bees bare
كَمhow many بِمِصرٍin Egypt زَفرَةٌa sigh مِنfrom حَرِّهاits heat
كَم بِمِصرٍ زَفرَةٌ مِن حَرِّها
كُنِسَtook cover الأَعفَرُthe tawny gazelle وَالطَيرُand the birds وَكَرsought their nests
كُنِسَ الأَعفَرُ وَالطَيرُ وَكَر
How many a sigh in Egypt, from whose heat
How many a father in Aswan, heart distraught
the tawny gazelle took cover and the birds sought their nests!
Lost sons, bleak fate, heavy despair
كَمhow many أَبٍa father أَسوانَsorrowing دامٍbleeding قَلبُهُhis heart
كَم أَبٍ أَسوانَ دامٍ قَلبُهُ
مُستَطيرِdistraught اللُبِّthe mind مَفقورِbroken الظَهَرthe back
مُستَطيرِ اللُبِّ مَفقورِ الظَهَر
How many a sorrowing father, his heart bleeding,
Grim faces from the news, glances joy robbed
his mind distraught, his back broken,
Mothers bereaved, infants forlorn, nurture impaired
ساهِمَhaggard الوَجهِthe face لِماbecause of what حَلَّbefell بِهِupon him
ساهِمَ الوَجهِ لِما حَلَّ بِهِ
سادِرَdazed النَظرَةِthe gaze مِنfrom وَقعِthe impact of الخَبَرthe news
سادِرَ النَظرَةِ مِن وَقعِ الخَبَر
his face haggard from what befell him,
A grieving eve 'neath shadows teaching sorrow to trees
his gaze dazed by the shock of the news!
Questioning birds about their missing companions each time one chirps
كَمhow many بِهاin her والِدَةٍa mother والِهَةٍdistraught
كَم بِها والِدَةٍ والِهَةٍ
عَضَّهاbit her الثُكلُbereavement بِنابٍwith a fang فَعَقَرso crippled
عَضَّها الثُكلُ بِنابٍ فَعَقَر
How many a distraught mother there,
Asking stars about their missing own
whom bereavement bit with its fang and crippled,
Each time one hides or peers
ذاتِhaving نَوحٍlamentation تَحتَbeneath أَذيالِthe skirts of الدُجىdarkness
ذاتِ نَوحٍ تَحتَ أَذيالِ الدُجى
عَلَّمَtaught الأَشجانَsorrows سُكّانَthe dwellers in الشَجَرthe trees
عَلَّمَ الأَشجانَ سُكّانَ الشَجَر
whose wailing beneath the skirts of darkness
Giving life for one who'd tell her
taught sorrow to the dwellers in the trees!
That he escaped the grip of fate so severe
تَسأَلُshe asks الأَطيارَthe birds عَنabout مُؤنِسِهاher companion
تَسأَلُ الأَطيارَ عَن مُؤنِسِها
كُلَّماwhenever صَفَّقَflapped its wings طَيرٌa bird وَاِصطَحَرand entered open country
كُلَّما صَفَّقَ طَيرٌ وَاِصطَحَر
She asks the birds about her companion
Oh Egypt, each day brings new calamity
whenever a bird flaps its wings and takes to open country.
And tribulations from which you cannot veer
تَسأَلُshe asks الأَنجُمَthe stars عَنabout واحِدِهاher only one
تَسأَلُ الأَنجُمَ عَن واحِدِها
كُلَّماwhenever غُوِّرَwas hidden نَجمٌa star أَوor ظَهَرappeared
كُلَّما غُوِّرَ نَجمٌ أَو ظَهَر
She asks the stars about her only one
Minor are your woes, unless from your sons
whenever a star sets or appears.
In your soil a remedy they confer
تَهَبُshe gives العُمرَlife لِمَنto whoever يُنبِئُهاtells her
تَهَبُ العُمرَ لِمَن يُنبِئُها
أَنَّهُthat he أَفلَتَescaped مِنfrom كَفِّthe hand of القَدَرfate
أَنَّهُ أَفلَتَ مِن كَفِّ القَدَر
She offers her life to whoever tells her
You've belittled their glory in transporting them
that he escaped from the hand of fate.
When one of the greatest bore them over here
وَيحَalas for مِصرٍEgypt كُلَّevery يَومٍday حادِثٌa calamity
وَيحَ مِصرٍ كُلَّ يَومٍ حادِثٌ
وَبَلاءٌand an affliction ماnot لَهاfor her مِنهُfrom it مَفَرan escape
وَبَلاءٌ ما لَها مِنهُ مَفَر
Alas for Egypt! Every day a calamity,
Be they in Eastern or Western earth laid to rest
and an affliction from which she has no escape.
Their final place is one and the same, have no fear
هانَbecame slight ماwhat تَلقاهُshe endures it إِلّاexcept خَطبُهاher calamity
هانَ ما تَلقاهُ إِلّا خَطبُها
فيin تُرابٍdust مِنfrom بَنيهاher sons مُدَّخَرlaid away
في تُرابٍ مِن بَنيها مُدَّخَر
All she suffers pales, save her grief
Do you disdain that we see a day ours
for her sons' dust laid away.
In the realm of knowledge, an acre held dear
قَدindeed ظَلَمتُمyou wronged مَجدَهُمtheir glory فيin نَقلِهِمmoving them
قَد ظَلَمتُم مَجدَهُم في نَقلِهِم
إِنَّماnothing but نَقلَتُهُمtheir removal إِحدىone of الكُبَرthe great calamities
إِنَّما نَقلَتُهُم إِحدى الكُبَر
You have wronged their glory by moving them;
Do you resent that we honor them
their removal is one of the gravest calamities.
Among authors of history and pioneers
فَسَواءٌso it is the same فيin تُرابِthe soil of الشَرقِthe East أَمor
فَسَواءٌ في تُرابِ الشَرقِ أَم
فيin تَرابِthe soil of الغَربِthe West كانَwas المُستَقَرthe resting place
في تَرابِ الغَربِ كانَ المُستَقَر
For it is all the same whether in the soil of the East or
A landmark, when one passes it
in the soil of the West their resting place lay.
A youth hails their name with pride and a tear
أَأَبَيتُمdid you refuse? أَنthat نَرىwe see يَوماًone day لَناof our own
أَأَبَيتُم أَن نَرى يَوماً لَنا
فيin رُبوعِthe realms of العِلمِlearning شِبراًa handspan فَنُسَرso we rejoice
في رُبوعِ العِلمِ شِبراً فَنُسَر
Have you refused to let us one day see our own
A guide for Egyptians when honeyed with fervor
handspan in the realms of learning, and rejoice?
In the West to their homeland they lovingly cheer
أَضَنِنتُمwere you too grudging? أَنto تُقيمواerect بَينهُمamong them
أَضَنِنتُم أَن تُقيموا بَينهُم
شاهِداًa memorial مِنّاfrom us لِكُتّابِfor writers of السِيَرhistories
شاهِداً مِنّا لِكُتّابِ السِيَر
Were you too grudging to erect among them
How many of our gifts on their land
a memorial of ours for the chroniclers,
Framed a miracle amidst portraits so revered
وَمَزاراًand a shrine كُلَّماwhenever يَمَّمَهُheads toward it
وَمَزاراً كُلَّما يَمَّمَهُ
ناشِئٌa youth حَيّاsaluted ثَراهُits soil وَاِدَّكَرand remembered
ناشِئٌ حَيّا ثَراهُ وَاِدَّكَر
and a shrine: whenever it is sought
Rising as symbols of bygone golden ages
by a youth, he salutes its soil and remembers;
When knowledge upon them shone and prospered
وَدَليلاًand a proof لِاِبنِfor a son of مِصرٍEgypt كُلَّماwhenever
وَدَليلاً لِاِبنِ مِصرٍ كُلَّما
قامَstood فيin الغَربِthe West بِمِصرٍfor Egypt فَاِفتَخَرand so took pride
قامَ في الغَربِ بِمِصرٍ فَاِفتَخَر
and a testimony for Egypt's son whenever
Make then our deceased amongst them today
he stands up for Egypt in the West and takes pride?
The finest symbol of hope so endeared
كَمhow many مَسَلّاتٍobelisks لَناof ours فيin أَرضِهِمtheir land
كَم مَسَلّاتٍ لَنا في أَرضِهِم
صَوَّرَتdepicted مُعجِزَةًa marvel بَينَamong الصُوَرthe images
صَوَّرَت مُعجِزَةً بَينَ الصُوَر
How many obelisks of ours in their land
Rome's children eased our sorrow
have embodied a marvel among the images!
With your blessed hands' gentle gift sincere
قُمنَthey stood رَمزاًas a symbol لِعُصورٍof ages قَدalready خَلَتpassed
قُمنَ رَمزاً لِعُصورٍ قَد خَلَت
أَشرَقَshone العِلمُlearning عَلَيهاupon them وَاِزدَهَرand flourished
أَشرَقَ العِلمُ عَلَيها وَاِزدَهَر
They stood as symbols of ages gone by;
You gathered our sons in a glowing wreath
on them learning shone and flourished.
Strewn across your valley, their buds once here
فَاِجعَلواso make أَمواتَناour dead اليَومَtoday بِهاin it
فَاِجعَلوا أَمواتَنا اليَومَ بِها
خَيرَthe finest رَمزٍsymbol لِرَجاءٍof hope مُنتَظَرawaited
خَيرَ رَمزٍ لِرَجاءٍ مُنتَظَر
So make our dead today, in that land,
And when they were laid to rest, the cream of your crop
the finest symbol of hope awaited.
Joined the procession, their heads bowed in tear
أُمَّةُnation of الطِليانِthe Italians خَفَّفتِyou eased الأَسىthe sorrow
أُمَّةُ الطِليانِ خَفَّفتِ الأَسى
بِصَنيعٍwith a deed مِنamong أَياديكِyour acts of kindness الغُرَرresplendent
بِصَنيعٍ مِن أَياديكِ الغُرَر
O nation of the Italians, you eased the sorrow
All came who favorites were, grief-stricken, downcast,
with one of your resplendent acts of kindness.
Your own wept for ours, wetting their new homes with tears
جَمَعَتgathered كَفّاكِyour two hands عِقداًa necklace زاهِياًshining
جَمَعَت كَفّاكِ عِقداً زاهِياً
مِنof بَنيناour sons فَوقَover واديكِyour valley اِنتَثَرscattered
مِن بَنينا فَوقَ واديكِ اِنتَثَر
Your two hands gathered a shining necklace
You did as God did for you, and more
of our sons, scattered over your valley.
Nobler than generous souls could ever endear
وَمَشىand walked فيin مَوكِبِthe procession of الدَفنِburial لَهُمfor them
وَمَشى في مَوكِبِ الدَفنِ لَهُم
مِنamong بَنيكُمyour sons كُلُّevery مِسماحٍgenerous man أَغَرnoble
مِن بَنيكُم كُلُّ مِسماحٍ أَغَر
And in their burial procession walked
For you we cried in compassion
every generous, noble one among your sons.
The day we heard the sad news, our treasures no longer dear
وَسَعىand came forward كُلُّevery اِمرِئٍman مُفضِلٍbeneficent
وَسَعى كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ مُفضِلٍ
بادِيَshowing الأَحزانِsorrows مَخفوضَlowered النَظَرthe gaze
بادِيَ الأَحزانِ مَخفوضَ النَظَر
And every beneficent man came forward,
You remembered and thanked for our gifts
his sorrows plain, his gaze cast down.
And Rome's sons are the foremost in thanks and good cheer
وَبَكَتand wept for أَفلاذُكُمyour children أَفلاذَناour children
وَبَكَت أَفلاذُكُم أَفلاذَنا
بِدُموعٍwith tears رَوَّضَتturned into gardens تِلكَthose الحُفَرgrave-pits
بِدُموعٍ رَوَّضَت تِلكَ الحُفَر
And your flesh and blood wept for ours,
O Nile's youth, no danger should deter you
with tears that made gardens of those graves.
From pursuing glory, no hazard interfere
وَصَنَعتُمand you did صَنَعَmay do good اللَهُGod لَكُمfor you
وَصَنَعتُم صَنَعَ اللَهُ لَكُم
فَوقَbeyond ماwhat يَصنَعُهُhe does it الخِلُّthe friend الأَبَرmost devoted
فَوقَ ما يَصنَعُهُ الخِلُّ الأَبَر
And you did—may God do good for you—
They who love the means to greatness
more than the most devoted friend would do.
Shed all caution and fear
قَدindeed بَكَيناwe wept لَكُمُfor you مِنout of رَحمَةِcompassion
قَد بَكَينا لَكُمُ مِن رَحمَةِ
يَومَthe day of مِسّيناMessina فَأَرخَصناso we cheapened الدُرَرpearls
يَومَ مِسّينا فَأَرخَصنا الدُرَر
We wept for you out of compassion
Seek knowledge, even if the journey's rough
on the day of Messina, and lavished pearls.
Beyond what mortal creatures can bear
فَحَفِظتُمso you remembered وَشَكَرتُمand you thanked صُنعَناour deed
فَحَفِظتُم وَشَكَرتُم صُنعَنا
وَبَنوand the sons of الرومانِthe Romans أَولىmost worthy مَنthose who شَكَرgave thanks
وَبَنو الرومانِ أَولى مَن شَكَر
So you remembered and thanked us for our deed,
We're in an age of ongoing holy war
and the sons of the Romans are foremost in gratitude.
Between death and life, no peace interfered
أَيO شَبابَyouth of النيلِthe Nile لاdo not تَقعُدhold back بِكُمyou
أَي شَبابَ النيلِ لا تَقعُد بِكُم
عَنfrom خَطيرِlofty المَجدِglory أَخطارُthe dangers of السَفَرtravel
عَن خَطيرِ المَجدِ أَخطارُ السَفَر
O youth of the Nile, do not be held back
from lofty glory by the perils of travel.
إِنَّindeed مَنwhoever يَعشَقُloves passionately أَسبابَthe means to العُلاgreatness
إِنَّ مَن يَعشَقُ أَسبابَ العُلا
يَطرَحُcasts off الإِحجامَhesitation عَنهُfrom himself وَالحَذَرand caution
يَطرَحُ الإِحجامَ عَنهُ وَالحَذَر
For whoever loves the paths to greatness
casts off hesitation and caution.
فَاِطلُبواso seek العِلمَlearning وَلَوeven if جَشَّمَكُمburdened you
فَاِطلُبوا العِلمَ وَلَو جَشَّمَكُم
فَوقَbeyond ماwhat تَحمِلُcan bear أَطواقُthe capacities of البَشَرhumankind
فَوقَ ما تَحمِلُ أَطواقُ البَشَر
So seek learning, even if it burdens you
beyond what human capacities can bear.
نَحنُwe فيin عَهدِan age of جِهادٍstruggle قائِمٍongoing
نَحنُ في عَهدِ جِهادٍ قائِمٍ
بَينَbetween مَوتٍdeath وَحَياةٍand life لَمdid not تَقِرsettle
بَينَ مَوتٍ وَحَياةٍ لَم تَقِر
We are in an age of ongoing struggle
between death and a life not yet secure.
Partial English translation: 72 of 80 Arabic lines translated.